Interrogating the potential of a “cash plus” approach to tackle multidimensional vulnerability in humanitarian contexts: the case of Syrian refugees in Jordan

Abu-Hamad, Bassam; Jones, Nicola; Presler-Marshall, Elizabeth; Samuels, Fiona; Gercama, Ingrid

doi:10.4337/9781786431998.00014

Cited by 11 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…The youngest age group in our study, 13- to 16-year-olds, had a HRQoL Index score of 71, similar to the population norm. Fewer studies have looked at HRQoL in refugee youth in particular, but a UN project assessed the HRQoL of Syrian children (median age 14 years) living in Jordan [21]. Their HRQoL Index score was 63, which is close to our result for the whole study population but much lower than the similar age group of 13- to 16-year-olds in our study, suggesting that not only age but also contextual factors contribute to the scores.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Some studies indicate that migrants from Middle Eastern countries report lower levels of HRQoL than, for example, their African counterparts [18,20]. However, a sample of healthy youth in Jordan [39] reported HRQoL scores much closer to the European population norm data than Syrian refugees in Jordan [21] or our participants, suggesting that the context of being an immigrant or refugee might have influenced the scores rather than cultural interpretations. This is also illustrated by the small but persistent influence of experienced SE across all dimensions also found in other studies [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…For refugee youth, as a subgroup of immigrants, the results also vary. Two Australian studies found HRQoL levels comparable to rates in healthy populations [ 18 , 19 ], whilst a Swedish study found lower scores for foreign-born youth [ 20 ], and a UN project reported substantially lower HRQoL scores for Syrian children living in Jordan [ 21 ]. In addition to age and sex, some of the related determinants were region of origin, residence time, family situation and war-related events [ 18 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health-related quality of life in young Syrian refugees recently resettled in Norway

Dangmann

Solberg

Steffenak

et al. 2020

Scand J Public Health

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Aims: Millions have fled from the civil unrest in Syria, and half of these are children and youth. Although they are a population with an elevated risk of health problems due to adverse pre-migratory and post-migratory experiences, few studies have explored their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This is considered a fundamental construct in public health and might provide complementary descriptions of their health and well-being after resettling in a new country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 160 Syrian youth aged 13–24 years. Using KIDSCREEN-27, the results for five dimensions of HRQoL was compared to population norm data. Demographic factors and war-related adverse events were used to predict HRQoL in hierarchical regression. Results: For most participants, the overall HRQoL was good, but it was lower in the dimensions for friends, physical well-being and psychological well-being compared to population norms. Scores in the dimensions for autonomy/parental relation and the school environment were high and were the main contributors to a positive HRQoL. Age and number of reported stressful events (SE) had the greatest impact on HRQoL, but the final regression model only accounted for 21% of the total variance. Conclusions: HRQoL is a relevant and non-invasive measure for refugee youth. Contributors to lower scores in physical and psychological well-being should be explored further and indicate the potential for future interventions focussing on general psychological well-being and networks, regardless of the SE that have been experienced. These interventions could potentially be based in schools or in families in order to benefit from these being seemingly safe environments for the majority of the group.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health-related quality of life in young Syrian refugees recently resettled in Norway

Dangmann

Solberg

Steffenak

et al. 2020

Scand J Public Health

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“…Notably, a 2019 analysis of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) Program for Syrian refugees in Turkey found no statistically significant differences in care-seeking by cash beneficiary status [ 24 ]. Similarly, two evaluations of UNHCR/UNICEF cash assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan reported no strong association between receipt of cash assistance and both care-seeking and access to health services [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-purpose cash transfers and health among vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon: a prospective cohort study

Lyles

Arhem²,

Khoury

et al. 2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Multipurpose cash transfers (MPCs) are used on a widespread basis in the Syrian refugee response; however, there is little to no evidence as to how they affect health in humanitarian crises. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted from May 2018 through July 2019 to evaluate the impact of MPCs on health care-seeking and expenditures for child, adult acute, and adult chronic illness by Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Households receiving MPCs from UNHCR were compared to control households not receiving UNHCR MPCs. Results Care-seeking for childhood illness was consistently high in both MPC and non-MPC households. An increased proportion of households did not receive all recommended care due to cost; this increase was 19.3% greater among MPC recipients than controls (P = 0.002). Increases in child hospitalizations were significantly smaller among MPC recipients than controls (DiD -6.1%; P = 0.037). For adult acute illnesses, care-seeking increased among MPC recipients but decreased in controls (adjusted DiD 11.3%; P = 0.057); differences in change for other utilization outcomes were not significant. The adjusted difference in change in the proportion of MPC households not receiving recommended chronic illness care due to cost compared to controls was − 28.2% (P = 0.073). Access to medication for adult chronic illness also marginally significantly improved for MPC households relative to controls. The proportion of MPC recipients reporting expenses for the most recent child and adult acute illness increased significantly, as did the [log] total visit cost. Both MPC and control households reported significant increases in borrowing to pay for health expenses over the year study period, but differences in change in borrowing or asset sales were not significant, indicating that MPC was not protective against for household financial risks associated with health. Conclusions While MPC may have shown some positive effects, findings were mixed and MPC appears insufficient on its own to address health utilization and expenditures. A broader strategy addressing Syrian refugee health in Lebanon is needed of which MPC should be incorporated, with additional support such as additional conditional cash transfers for health.

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“…Isolation, discrimination and safety concerns, combined with poor-quality education, help explain why 20% of refugee children and 30% of adolescent refugees are not in school in Jordan (Abu-Hamad et al 2019). More than half of caregivers (57%) admitted that they restricted their daughters' mobility to keep them safe (ibid.).…”

Section: Jordanmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘No One Should Be Terrified Like I Was!’ Exploring Drivers and Impacts of Child Marriage in Protracted Crises Among Palestinian and Syrian Refugees

et al. 2021

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Exacerbated by 9 years of conflict and displacement, child marriage among Syrian refugees appears to be increasing, while in Gaza, the noticeable reduction in child brides over the past two decades has recently plateaued. This comparative study explores drivers and consequences of child marriage in protracted crises, drawing on mixed-methods research from Gaza and Jordan with married adolescent girls and their parents. Our findings suggest that conflict reignites pre-existing drivers of child marriage, especially conservative norms around family honour and clan inter-marriage. Poverty is a strong driver of child marriage among Syrian refugees, while social protection programmes and educational opportunities for girls have played a protective role in Gaza. In both contexts, our findings underscore the multiple and intersecting negative effects of child marriage on girls’ health and bodily integrity, and point to the urgency of tackling this harmful practice to ensure that no adolescent is left behind.

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Interrogating the potential of a “cash plus” approach to tackle multidimensional vulnerability in humanitarian contexts: the case of Syrian refugees in Jordan

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Health-related quality of life in young Syrian refugees recently resettled in Norway

Health-related quality of life in young Syrian refugees recently resettled in Norway

Multi-purpose cash transfers and health among vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon: a prospective cohort study

‘No One Should Be Terrified Like I Was!’ Exploring Drivers and Impacts of Child Marriage in Protracted Crises Among Palestinian and Syrian Refugees

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